ECR group kicks out German far-right MEPs

Two MEPs from the far-right Alternative for Germany have been asked to leave the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament.

“The ECR Bureau met this evening and has invited the AfD to leave the ECR Group before 31st March, otherwise a motion will be tabled to expel them at its next meeting on the 12th April,” said a statement from the ECR.

There are two AfD members in the ECR — Beatrix Von Storch and Marcus Pretzell.

A Parliament official said the evictions are unlikely to have any impact on the group, which has 76 MEPs and is the third largest in the Parliament. The group has 20 British MEPs from David Cameron’s Tory party.

On Tuesday, von Storch contested the decision to expel her and Pretzell from the group. “There was no majority to vote for the exclusion of the AfD,” she said. “It was a compromise as they know how to do it in Brussels, to avoid losing face. We remain full members of the European Parliament.”

She said Merkel was trying to damage the AfD before regional elections in Germany on March 13, and Cameron was trying to distance his Conservative MEPs — who are part of the ECR — from the AfD ahead of the June 23 referendum on EU membership.

“Two political gamblers with a long experience in deceiving their voters perform hopefully their last political bribery comedy,” said von Storch.

A source told POLITICO that the reason for the expulsion was controversial “shoot refugees” comments, and that if the MEPs do not leave voluntarily, the ECR has threatened to kick them out by a vote.

Last month, von Storch stated that the police should be allowed to use weapons against women and children who enter Germany illegally. She later tried to water down her remarks, saying that “the use of firearms against children is not permitted,” but “women are a different matter.”

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Pexi

German’s “democracy ” standard were and are inhuman since a while…

Posted on 3/8/16 | 11:50 PM CET

Krop

Calling for the shooting children and women refugees and migrants? Somehow not even the most Eurosceptic Conservatives will sit easily for this. I say this was to be expected. Just because it fits Merkel and Cameron’s agendas doesn’t mean it is unjustified.

Posted on 3/9/16 | 10:13 AM CET

Johann M. Wolff

“far-righ” ? Politico, really ? Then what is the NDP ? AFD is right wing for sure but certainly not far-right.

Posted on 3/9/16 | 11:09 AM CET

Vajda Zoltán

And what about the U.S. -Mexican border? The US border guard does not hesitate to use weapon in case of necessity. Are they fascists? And what will be, if the invaders/ refugees will use weapon at first? Shall we defend ourselves with the distribution of sample copies of the Declaration of Human Rights? Total stupid hypocrisy.

Posted on 3/9/16 | 1:52 PM CET

Roland

I do not understand why her statements are controversial. If people try to force their way across a border the police go “Halt halt !” Dogs barking and then if they do not stop they shoot. That is normal. Not shooting and allowing people to cross is what is abnormal. I suppose they are trying to demonise the AfD leader and party. That never works.

Posted on 3/9/16 | 2:09 PM CET

flemming

A decent thing to do to get rid of those German Erdogan equivalents.. I had hoped that those times were gone. In those days the Tories made an alliance with them I was worried that Churchill would turn in his grave. Now where they are a part of Farage’s horror cabinet there can be no doubt about their true leanings.

Posted on 3/9/16 | 6:06 PM CET

Felix

ECR will face a major meltdown when the English are leaving the EU. From that perspective I would recommand all the remaining conservative parties in the group to keep the AfD in. AfD will come back in big numbers in the next term, so why destroying the good relationship now? The Tories don’t have to care since they are already planning for the time after the Brexit. But the rest?